Photo: The participants of the Establishment of Urban Gardening Project of the DA-HVCDP holding the tools needed for the Urban Garden led by Ms. Maricar Combalicer and Mr. Renie Madriaga (12th and 13th from left) after their preparation of the area of the future garden. Photo by: Paulo Emmanuel M. Ajose, RAFIS DA-MiMaRoPa

The DA- HVCDP turns-over the Urban Gardening Project to Barangay San Jose, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan with training course on Establishment of Urban Gardening held in the Community Hall of San Jose, PPC on June 13- 14, 2018.

In addition to the project, the beneficiary will receive trainings, vegetable seeds, organic fertilizer, screen house facility, garden tools such as, hoe, rake, spade, sprinkler, sprayer, seedling trays, and plastic mulch which are essential in making the urban garden.

This activity aims to capacitate the urban dwellers on modern agricultural practices and use of organic fertilizers. Also, to encourage urban dwellers to grow their own vegetables in their backyards, in posts and other containers.

The said barangay was chosen as the beneficiary of this project because it has the available area for gardening and is also accessible to urban dwellers. In addition, the barangay council thru Brgy. Captain Estrella Salvador is very much willing and committed to undertake the said project.

The participants in the training are the residents selected by the Office of the City Agriculturist (OCA) and the barangay council who are willing to make the garden possible.

The facilitator in this training was Ms. Generosa G. Onde, Officer-in-Charge of DA- PAC. She taught the attendees on how to make concoctions such as Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ), Oriental Herb Nutrient (OHN), and Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ). These concoctions are helpful in making plants safe from pests without using any synthetic fertilizer, and the materials are available in the market.

Photo: Ms. Onde while helping a participant in mixing the ingredients for the FFJ.

After the concoctions, Ms. Onde asked the participants to demonstrate on what they have learned during the lecture. She called the participants one by one to make their own concoctions.

Photo: Mr. Madriaga on the discussion on how to plant in a container.

In addition, Mr. Renie Madriaga of HVCDP presented the different methods in planting vegetables in backyard using containers. furthermore, he presented his plan on the proposed garden to the participants. Then, he dvided the participants into four (4) groups to collaborate in designing their desired garden. After a while, each representative from the groups presented their landscape and discussed why they chose to have that lay-out for their garden.

Photo: a representative discussing the details of their designed Garden.

After the presentation. The participants started preparing the area for the proposed garden with the tools provided by the HVCD Program.

Photos: the participants during the clearing of the area suited for the Urban Garden Project.